Bealach na Gaeltachta, Dún na nGall

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Bealach na Gaeltachta, Dún na nGall comprises four circular walking routes in the Gaeltacht areas of County Donegal. The name is Irish for 'Gaeltacht Way, Donegal'. The routes together extend to 174 miles.

All four trails are designated as 'National Waymarked Trails' by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and managed by the local council and Údaras na Gaeltachta.

  • Slí an Earagail ('Errigal Way') is 48 miles long and begins and ends in Dunlewey.[1] It is graded as "easy' by the National Trails Office.[1] The total ascent is 2,362 feet. The trail follows a circular route around the forestry, countryside and coastline surrounding Mount Errigal and passes through the villages of Gweedore, Falcarragh, Derrybeg and Bunbeg. The trail links to two shorter loop walks on Tory Island and Gola Island and there is also a three miles connecting trail to Slí na Rosann.
  • Slí na Rosann ('Rosses Way') is 40 miles long and begins and ends in Dungloe.[2] It is graded as "moderate" by the National Trails Office.[2] The total ascent is 2,526 feet. The trail explores the lakes and coastline of The Rosses region of Donegal and takes in the settlements of Burtonport, Annagry, Crolly and Maghery. The trail links to a loop walk around the island of Arranmore and there is also a 14-mile link trail from the townland of Crovehy to Slí na Finne, by way of Doochary.
  • Slí na Finne ('Finn's Way') is 32 miles long and begins and ends in Fintown. It is graded as "moderate" by the National Trails Office. The total ascent is 3,215 feet. The trail loops around the mountains around Lough Finn and the River Finn and passes through the villages of Cloghan and Commeen.
  • Slí Cholmcille ('Colmcille's Way') is 40 miles long and begins and ends in Ardara.[3] It is graded as "moderate" by the National Trails Office.[3] The total ascent is 5,249 feet. The route traverses the mountains and coastline of south-west Donegal, an area associated with St Colmcille, who gives his name to the trail. It passes through the villages of Kilcar, Carrick and Glencolmcille. Slí Cholmcille is proposed to be included in the Irish leg of the International Appalachian Trail, an extension of the Appalachian Trail through Canada to Newfoundland, to all terrain the formed part of the Appalachian Mountains on Pangaea, including Ireland.

Outside links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Slí an Earagail – Irish Trails (Irish Sports Council)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Slí na Rosann – Irish Trails (Irish Sports Council)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Slí Cholmcille – Irish Trails (Irish Sports Council)
Long-distance footpaths in the Republic of Ireland

National Waymarked Trails:   Ballyhoura WayBarrow WayBealach na Gaeltachta, Dún na nGallBeara WayBlackwater WayBluestack WayBurren WayCavan WayCroagh Patrick Heritage TrailDingle WayDublin Mountains WayEast Clare WayEast Munster WayGrand Canal WayHymany WayKerry WayLough Derg WayMid Clare WayMiners Way and Historical TrailMonaghan WayMulteen WayNore Valley WayNorth Kerry WayOffaly WayRoyal Canal WaySheep's Head WaySlieve Bloom WaySlieve Felim WaySligo WaySouth Leinster WaySuck Valley WayTáin WayTipperary Heritage WayWestern WayWestmeath WayWicklow Way

Greenways:   Boyne GreenwayDublin-Galway GreenwayGreat Southern TrailGreat Western Greenway

Others:   Bangor TrailMalin to Mizen